Water filter cartridge replacement system for a refrigerator

Claim 2

In a refrigerator including a water dispenser and an ice maker, a system for determining and indicating a need to replace a water filter comprising: a mounting head including a water inlet connected to a fresh water supply, a water outlet, and a connection port, fluidly interposed between the water inlet and the water outlet, adapted to receive a replaceable water filter, said water outlet being fluidly interconnected to each of the water dispenser and the ice maker; a water filter removably attached to the connection port of the mounting head; at least one valve, fluidly interposed between the water outlet of the mounting head and each of the water dispenser and the ice maker, which can be actuated to provide a controlled flow of filtered water to a select one of the water dispenser and the ice maker; a control unit for actuating the at least one valve in order to direct the controlled flow of filtered water to the select one of the water dispenser and the ice maker, said control unit including a timing device for measuring a duration of actuation of the at least one valve, a volume calculating device for determining a volume of filtered water associated with the duration of actuation, and a summing device for maintaining an accumulated, filtered water volume; and an indicator, linked to the control unit, for signaling when the accumulated, filtered water volume reaches a threshold value and the water filter needs to be replaced.

Claim 3

The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve comprises a single solenoid valve having an inlet, connected to the water outlet of the mounting head, and first and second outlets leading to the water dispenser and the ice maker, respectively.

Claim 4

The system according to claim 1 , further comprising: an electrical switching unit located at the mounting head, said switching unit detecting a presence or absence of the water filter on the mounting head.

Claim 5

The system according to claim 3 , wherein the timing device only measures the duration of actuation of the at least one valve when the switching unit signals the presence of the water filter on the mounting head.

Claim 6

The system according to claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator includes a front panel portion at which the water dispenser is disposed, said indicator being constituted by an illuminating element provided on the front panel portion.

Claim 7

The system according to claim 1 , further comprising: means for resetting the summing device upon replacement of the water filter.

Claim 8

In a refrigerator including a water dispenser and an ice maker, a system for determining and indicating a need to replace a water filter comprising: a mounting head including a water inlet connected to a fresh water supply, a water outlet, and a connection port, fluidly interposed between the water inlet and the water outlet, adapted to receive a replaceable water filter, said water outlet being fluidly interconnected to each of the water dispenser and the ice maker; a water filter removably attached to the connection port of the mounting head; an electrical switching unit located at the mounting head, said switching unit detecting a presence or absence of the water filter on the mounting head; at least one valve, fluidly interposed between the water outlet of the mounting head and each of the water dispenser and the ice maker, which can be actuated to provide a controlled flow of filtered water to a select one of the water dispenser and the ice maker; a control unit for actuating the at least one valve in order to direct the controlled flow of filtered water to the select one of the water dispenser and the ice maker, said control unit further accumulating an operating parameter of the system indicative of the amount of flow through the water filter, said control unit only accumulating the operating parameter when the electrical switching unit detects the presence of the water filter; and an indicator for signaling a need to replace the water filter based on the accumulated operating parameter.

Claim 9

In a refrigerator including a water dispenser and an ice maker, a system for determining and indicating a need to replace a water filter comprising: a mounting head including a water inlet connected to a fresh water supply, a water outlet, and a connection port, fluidly interposed between the water inlet and the water outlet, adapted to receive a replaceable water filter, said water outlet being fluidly interconnected to each of the water dispenser and the ice maker; a water filter removably attached to the connection port of the mounting head; an electrical switching unit located at the mounting head, said switching unit detecting a presence or absence of the water filter on the mounting head; at least one valve, fluidly interposed between the water outlet of the mounting head and each of the water dispenser and the ice maker, which can be actuated to provide a controlled flow of filtered water to a select one of the water dispenser and the ice maker; a control unit for actuating the at least one valve in order to direct the controlled flow of filtered water to the select one of the water dispenser and the ice maker, said control unit further accumulating an operating parameter of the system indicative of the amount of flow through the water filter, said control unit only accumulating the operating parameter when the electrical switching unit detects the presence of the water filter; and an indicator for signaling a need to replace the water filter based on the accumulated operating parameter.

Claim 10

The system according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one valve comprises a single solenoid valve having an inlet, connected to the water outlet of the mounting head, and first and second outlets leading to the water dispenser and the ice maker, respectively.

Claim 11

The system according to claim 7 , wherein the refrigerator includes a front panel portion at which the water dispenser is disposed, said indicator being constituted by an illuminating element provided on the front panel portion.

Claim 12

The system according to claim 7 , further comprising: means for resetting the accumulated operating parameter upon replacement of the water filter.

Claim 13

The system according to claim 7 , wherein said operating parameter is constituted by a duration of actuation of the at least one valve, the control unit including a timing device for measuring the duration of actuation of the at least one valve and a volume calculating device for determining a volume of filtered water associated with the duration of actuation.

Claim 14

The system according to claim 11 , wherein the control unit further includes a summing device for maintaining an accumulated, filtered water volume.

Claim 17

The method according to claim 13 , further comprising: sensing a presence of a water filter in fluid communication with the water dispenser and the ice maker; and timing the duration of actuation of the at least one valve only when the presence of the water filter is detected.

Claim 18

The method according to claim 13 , further comprising: resetting the accumulated, filtered water volume upon replacement of the water filter.

Claim 21

The method according to claim 16 , further comprising: resetting the accumulated operating parameter upon replacement of the water filter.

Claim 22

The method according to claim 16 , wherein accumulating the operating parameter includes: sensing an actuation of at least one flow control valve used to regulate a flow of filtered water to a desired one of the water dispenser and the ice maker; timing a duration of actuation of the at least one valve; calculating a volume of filtered water associated with the duration of actuation; and adding the calculated volume of filtered water to an accumulated, filtered water volume.